Saab 9-3 Sport Sedan 2.0t (A) with Hirsch tuned Review: Swede toppings

What we like:

Saab: Improved performance over standard carVolvo: Handsome inside and out

efficient drivetrain

mid-range performance

What we dislike:

Saab: Ageing in almost old areas and needs a successor as soon as possibleVolvo: New T4 variant doesn't feel much slower

slightly cramped at the back

steering can be more communicative

The 9-3 further shows off its age when you step inside its dark and somber cabin. There will be some who will love the 9-3's ageing cabin for its aircraft cockpit inspired design but there's no denying the age of the switchgear and the lack of quality in the way they look and operate. The Saab's instruments look dated too while the dealer fitted touchscreen headunit with integrated sat nav and Bluetooth handsfree for the Hirsch model replaces the well integrated factory fitted stereo headunit and looks like a sore thumb on the dash. Aviation inspired design elements like the overhead console for the map reading lights and the controls for the air-vents add some character to an otherwise drab cabin. Saab has persisted with the stylish looking but flawed handbrake design since the 9-3's birth - you still can trap your fingers when operating it if you're the careless type.

The second generation S60's all-new cabin feels and looks infinitely more contemporary than the Saab's here. The cabin offers both style and simplicity at the same time. Volvo's signature floating centre console is ever present but there's a new centrally mounted LCD screen on the dash. The screen displays settings for audio, climate control as well as settings for the car. The ergonomics are spot on, all the switches and controls are logically placed and the driving position highly adjustable. The front seats are still one of the best in the business. The overall design of the driving environment feels cohesive and it is certainly a nice place to be in.

At the rear, the Volvo offers more legroom than in both the Saab and its predecessor. The Saab though, offers more headroom for rear occupants as vertical space is not impeded by a sloping roof line and a heavily canted rear windscreen like in the S60. The Volvo's boot area is well-shaped but it lacks depth. Thankfully, the rear seatbacks can be folded down with an easy pull of a lever in the boot to expand the load area if required. The Saab's boot is deeper and has a wider loading aperture than the Volvo's.

Overall build quality and perceived luxury in the S60 is a quantum leap over the old S60's and is far better than the Saab's ergonomically sound but plasticky interior. The Volvo offers surfaces that are soft to the touch as well as trim inserts like the one around the gear lever and centre console that not only look good but feel exquisite as well.

Swedes being Swedes, safety is vey high on both car's agenda but the Volvo goes one better in offering its City Safety ant-collision system on all S60 models.

The 9-3 Hirsch costs just $4,000 more than the standard 2.0t. For your money's worth, you get the extra 45 horses and 70Nm, a dealer fitted headunit that comes with sat nav and Bluetooth handsfree. The Hirsch then, might offer more performance and more kit for relatively little money over the standard 2.0t but there's no denying that the ageing 9-3 is still surpassed by more modern and contemporary models among its competitors like the thoroughly capable Volvo S60 here. Don't get me wrong though, it's not that the 9-3 is a really bad car but it's just that the standards in the class have moved on quite a bit since the 9-3's era.

Credits: Story by Mark Yeo Photos by Raymond Lai